Display device



Sept. 20, 1960 E. c. GLASSER ETAL 2,953,676

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Sept. 5, 1957 INVENTORSI IIH ERNEST c. GLASSERWILUAM APATOFF United States Patent() DISPLAY DEVICE Ernest C. Glasserand William Apatolf, Chicago, Ill.,

Filed Sept. '3, 1957, Ser. No. 681,814

'3 Claims. '(Cl. 24010.1)

This invention relates to display devices and particularly to animatedand illuminated displays and parts thereof.

Point of sale displays can be effective in gaining and holding theattention of prospective purchasers of goods associated therewith. Theeffectiveness of such displays is enhanced if the display is animated,i.e., has moving parts or at least presents the illusion of movement.The display value can also be increased by effective lighting of thedisplay and even additional value is obtained if the lighting is coloredand is associated with the moving part of the display. Difliculty hasbeen encountered in the past in combining all of these desirablefeatures into a single display which is effective and yet is not soprohibitive in cost as to preclude wide use thereof.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention toprovide an improved display of the type set forth and more particularlyan improved animated and illuminated display.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved display of thetype set forth in which an illusion of movement is obtained althoughthere are no exterior moving parts which can be handled and damaged bysalesmen or customers.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improvedilluminated display in which the light effect appears to be movingcontinuously and dramatically whereby more effectively to attract theattention of potential buyers.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an illuminated andanimated display of the type set forth in which the illumination iscolored and the presentation of the colored illumination continuallychanges in an eye catching and pleasing manner whereby to increase theeffectiveness of the associated display.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide in a display of thetype set forth a lens system together with a moving source of colorwhich gives the illusion of rapidly and dramatically changing the colorcontinually at any given point of the lighted portion of the displaywhereby to give added attraction to the display.

A further object of the invention is to provide an im- 7 proved lensmember for use in displays of the type set tion will be betterunderstood from the following description when taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawing. In the drawing wherein like reference numeralshave been utilized to designate like parts throughout:

Figure l is a perspective view of a typical display incorporating theimprovements of the present invention made in accordance with andembodying the principles thereof;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view in vertical section through the display ofFigure 1 substantially as seen in the direction of the arrows along theline 22 thereof;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the relationship of the colorwheel and the lens and further illustrating the startling and unusualdisplay effect achieved thereby; and

Figure 4 is a view in section through the lens forming a part of thedisplay substantially as seen in the direction of the arrows along theline 4-4 of Figure 3.

Referring now to the drawing and particularly to Figure 1 thereof, thereis shown a display generally designated by the numeral 10 made inaccordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention.The display 10 includes in general a housing 12 on the front of which ismounted a lens 14 which may be for example positioned above a displayshelf 16 on which is mounted the article 18 which the display isdesigned to sell. The article 18 illustrated is a movie camera of thetype having a photoelectric eye 20 which automatically is operative toset the lens of the camera. Preferably the lens 14 has a shape and aconfiguration like some particular feature of the article 18 which it isdesired to emphasize. In Figure 1 the lens 14 has been illustrated asbeing shaped and having a configuration to emphasize the photoelectriceye v20 of the camera 18. To this end the lens 14 has the particularconfiguration, which will be described more particularly hereafter, sothat lens 14 appears as an enlarged replica of this feature. It is to beunderstood that the general outline and the surface appearance of theouter wall of the lens 14 will vary depending upon the feature of thearticle 18 whichrit is desired to emphasize in the overall display.

It is the lens 14 which gives the illusion of animation to the display10. It is also the lens 14 which provides illumination and changingcolors further to attract attention to the display 10. Referring now toFigure 2 of the drawings the manner in which the lens 14 has color andliglitvapplied thereto will be described. There is provided within thehousing 12 a color Wheel generally designatedby the numeral 22 which isprovided with alight source 24 in front thereof. Color wheel 22 has beenshown as being circular in shape and divided into six sectors, of equalangular extent. Each of the sectors is given a different color.Referring to Figure 3 of the drawings it will be seen that there hasbeen provided an orange sector 26, a red sector 28, a violet sector 30,a blue sector 32, a green sector 34, and a yellow sector 36. Each of thesectors 26 through 36 is of equal angular extent, namely 60, and iscolored a bright hue of the var,- ious colors named. There is providedat the meeting lines between adjacent sectors white or uncolored areas38, one of the white areas 38 being provided between each pair ofsectors 26 through 36. Preferably the areas 38 are circular and have adiameter which is of substantially the same order of magnitude as thelight source 24 which maybe an ordinary light bulb.

Means is provided to move the color wheel 22, rotat ing movement beingimparted thereto in the form shown in the drawing, but it is to beunderstood that other forms of movement such as rocking, oscillating andthe like can be applied thereto. To this end the rear wall 40 of thehousing 12 has mounted thereon a small elec+ trical motor 42 having anoutput shaft 44 extending outwardly therefrom. The end of shaft 44 isreceived through an opening in the color wheel 22 and 'the color wheel22 is held in position thereon by a wingnut 4 6." Suitable electricalconnections through line 48 are provided for the motor 42 and similarelectrical connec-. tions lare provided for the light bulb 2.4 through1a;

line 50. Lines 48 and 50 are joined in a common cord 52 which isprovided with the usual plug that can be inserted into any suitablepower receptacle.

Referring now particularly to Figures 2 and 4 of the drawings, theconstruction of the lens 14 will be described in detail. Preferably thelens 14 has the'outer walls thereof formed of a suitable transparentplastic material, a preferred form of plastic material being the acrylicplastics. Any suitable thickness of the plastic material may be utilizedas for example 30 gauge. The lens 14 includes a rear wall 56 which isformed substantially flat. Bounded to the rear wall 56 is a forward wallgenerally designated by the numeral 58 which may be formed in anysuitable manner such as by vacuum forming. The forward wall 58 has arearwardly extending flange 60 formed therearound and extendingrearwardly to the wall 56. Flange 60 in turn has formed thereon anoutwardly directed flange 62 which lies against the rear wall 56 and issuitably adhered thereto to provide a fluid tight connection between therear wall 56 and the front wall 58.

The front wall 53 has a front flange 64 which is substantially flat andextends around the periphery of the wall 58, the flange 64 lying in aplane substantially parallel to the rear wall 56. The major portion of.the front wall 58 is formed of a plurality of hexagonal portions 66.The hexagonal portions 66 completely fill the area bounded by the frontflange 64. It also will be seen that the hexagonal portions 66 arecurved outwardly away from the rear wall 56 and are formed as sectionsof a sphere. The radius of curvature of the spherical sections 66 ischosen to give the desired display effect as will be described morefully hereinafter.

The volume bounded by the walls 56 and 58 is filled with a suitablelight transmitting fluid. To facilitate filling, an aperture 68 isprovided in the rear wall 56 and is closed by a suitable plastic member70 after filling of the interior of the lens 14. Preferably the volumebetween the members 56 and 58 is not completely filled whereby to leavea small air pocket 72 that will accommodate expansion of the fluidmedium 74 upon heating and cooling thereof. In general any suitablelight transmitting fluid 74 may be utilized. In one preferred example ofthe invention, the fluid 74 is distilled water. If it is contemplatedthat the lens 14 will be subjected to conditions which would freezewater, the water may be provided with an anti-freeze such as alcohol orglycerol or alternately some other suitable filling medium such asmineral oil may be utilized.

Referring now specifically to Figure 3 of the drawings, the manner inwhich the color wheel 22 and the lens 14 cooperate to provide anilluminated and animated display will be described in detail. In onepreferred form of the invention the diameter of the color wheel 22 is 10inches. The lens 14 is mounted so that the flange 60 extends outwardlythrough an opening in the front wall 76 of the housing 12 so as topresent a surface which is approximately 7% inches by inches. Of theportion of the front wall 58 extending beyond the housing wall 76, anarea approximately 6 /2 inches by 4% inches is made up of the curvedhexagonal portions 66. The length of the flange 60 perpendicular to therear wall 56 may be for example /2 inch. The sections 66 have a radiusof curvature of one inch and each side of the hexagon forming theportion 66 is approximately inch long. When the parts are thusdimensioned, the color wheel 22 is positioned three to four inches awayfrom the rear wall 56 of the lens 14 and may be rotated at a speed offor example 60 rpm.

The effect of the cooperation of the lens 14 and the color wheel 22 isdiagrammatically illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawing. Each of thecurved portions 66 acts as a magnifying lens element or facet andpresents a colored appearance when light from the source 24 shines uponthe color wheel 22 therebehind. Movesquare, triangular, oval, circular,etc.

ment of the color wheel 22 causes the color of each of the lens elements66 to change rapidly, each element 66 at any one time havingsubstantially only one color. As a result, the color of the facets 66 iscontinually changing. The change in the color appears to beinstantaneous whereby to give a startling and attractive display effect.The unusual color change has been found to be most attractive whereby todraw attention rapidly and effectively to any material displayed uponthe shelf 16.

Other advertising or informative material can be ineluded on the frontwall 76 and also upon a header 78 which may be also utilized to hide andconceal the electrical connections. It is to be understood that theexternal shape of the lens 14 may be of other forms than rectangular andin addition the rear and front walls 56 and 58 need not be substantiallyflat as shown. For example, the outline of the lens 14 as viewed inFigure 3 of the drawings could be square, triangular, octagonal, oval,circular, etc. Instead of being substantially flat, the walls 56 and 58might also be cylindrical, spheroidal or otherwise curved. Each of theindividual lens portions or facets 66 might also have a different shape.Instead of being hexagonal these elements might be It is only necessarythat each element 66 have a curved outer surface whereby to provide alens effect.

Although one preferred embodiment of the invention has been describedand illustrated in the drawing, it is to be understood that variouschanges and modifications can be made therein without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is to belimited only as set forth in the following claims.

We claim:

1. A display device comprising a housing, a lens member mounted on saidhousing in position to be seen by a customer, said lens member beingformed of two sheets of spaced apart plastic having the spacetherebetween substantially filled with a transparent light transmittingaqueous fluid, the outer wall of said lens member being formed of andcompletely filled by discrete facets with each facet beingpart-spherical in shape and having a hexagonal outline, an opaque flatcolor member having a plurality of contrasting colors thereon mountedwithin said housing, a motor mounted within said housing to move saidcolor member, and a source of light mounted between said color memberand said lens member to illuminate said color member, the movement ofsaid color member providing the illusion of rapid shifting of colorsacross the facets to provide a pleasing display effect.

2. A display device comprising a housing, a lens mounted on said housingin position to be seen by a customer, said lens being formed of twosheets of spaced apart plastic having the space therebetweensubstantially filled with a transparent light transmitting fluid, theouter wall of said lens being formed in discrete facets with each facethaving a curvature to provide a lens effect, an opaque color memberhaving a plurality of contrasting colors thereon mounted within saidhousing, said color member having white areas formed thereon betweenareas of contrasting colors, a motor mounted within said housing to movesaid color member, and a source of light to illuminate said color memberthrough said lens, said source of light being positioned between saidcolor mem ber and said lens and being positioned in alignment with thewhite areas on said color member and forwardly toward said lens withrespect to a plane defined by the portions of said color member disposedclosest to said lens.

3. A display device comprising a housing, a lens mounted on said housingin position to be seen by a customer, said lens being formed of twosheets of spaced apart translucent plastic joined around the edgesthereof and having the space therebetween substantially filled with atransparent light transmitting fluid, the outer wall of said lens beingformed of and completely filled by discrete facets each part-sphericalin shape, an opaque flat color member having a plurality of contrastingcolors thereon and mounted within said housing, said color member havingwhite areas formed thereon between areas of contrasting colors and beingsubstantially larger than said lens with said lens positioned over onlya portion of said color member, a motor mounted within said housing tomove said color member, and a source of light mounted between said colormember and said lens and positioned in alignment with the white areas ofsaid color member whereby to illuminate said color member during therotation thereof to provide the illusion of rapid shifting of colorsacross said lens facets.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSHomrighous May 19, 1936 Rolph Nov. 16, 1937 Neumann Sept. 29, 1942Washington Mar. 23, 1948 McCallum June 15, 1948 Duhon Oct. 18, 1955Franck et a1 May 29, 1956 White July 9, 1957 Heenan et a1 Apr. 22, 1958FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain J an. 31, 1929

